BUFFALO AND SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – The Health Foundation for Western & Central New York will celebrate 20 years of service to the community with a year-long commemoration of the impact the organization has made in partnership with nonprofit organizations across the region. Commemorative events begin with the launch of a video testimonial featuring current and former grantee partners and trustees, entitled “Well is Being: Celebrating 20 Years on the Path Toward Health Equity,” and will continue through 2023 with highlights from throughout the organization’s history.
The year-long celebration will amplify the stories of the Health Foundation’s grantee partners and how those partnerships have changed the lives of western and central New Yorkers. Commemorative content will also highlight notable moments from the Health Foundation’s history, including its founding as a health conversion foundation in 2002 after the merger of health plans Univera and Excellus; first grants made in 2004; and a new commitment to racial and socioeconomic health equity in 2020.
“The Health Foundation was founded on the idea that all people deserve good health and quality health care, and through 20 years, we’ve carried that belief forward in all of our work,” said Cheryl Smith Fisher, Chair of the Health Foundation’s Board of Trustees. “Throughout our history, we’ve awarded more than 500 grants worth over $50 million, and launched numerous landmark programs and partnerships including the Health Leadership Fellows, Step Up to Stop Falls, Aging by Design, PEDALS, and Exhale, the Family Caregiver Initiative. These efforts have helped make long-term, expansive improvements to the health of older adults, children under five, and community health capacity. We are so grateful to the grantee partners who have trusted us to collaborate on these initiatives throughout the years.”
“Since our earliest days, the trustees and staff of the Health Foundation have been driven by our mission to improve the health of people and communities in western and central New York. It is an honor and privilege to celebrate this landmark moment in our history,” said Nora OBrien-Suric, PhD, President, Health Foundation for Western & Central New York. “Our 20th anniversary is the opportunity to celebrate two decades of partnerships that are making a difference for the health of the community, and to look ahead with excitement at what the future will bring.”
Stay tuned to hfwcny.org, sign up for our email list, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram to join in our 20th anniversary celebrations.
ABOUT THE HEALTH FOUNDATION FOR WESTERN & CENTRAL NEW YORK
The Health Foundation for Western & Central New York is an independent private foundation that advocates for continuous improvement in health and health care for the people and communities of Western and Central New York. Our vision is a healthy central and western New York where racial and socioeconomic equity are prioritized so all people can reach their full potential and achieve equitable health outcomes. For more information, please visit www.hfwcny.org.
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